Spotted Headstander
Chilodus punctatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Species profile
Red Banded Leporinus
Synaptolaemus latofasciatus
Common names: Red Banded Leporinus
Recognized speciesHeadstanders and Leporinus
Adult size
Up to 11 cm
Up to 11 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper who has researched this fish and can match its needs
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
- You cannot provide about 243 litres for a fully grown fish
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A slim fish with bold red and dark bands from the upper Orinoco and Amazon, and a rare sight in the hobby. Keep a group of at least 5 in 243 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A slim fish with bold red and dark bands from the upper Orinoco and Amazon, and a rare sight in the hobby. It lives in fast rocky rivers, and it does best in a group.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Usually hard to sex, although females are often rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 970–1,220 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 250–375 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 243 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 120 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Lightly planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
A long tank with a tight lid is best, because these fish jump. Use tough plants or wood, as soft plants are often eaten.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active fish that often swims nose-down as it picks at surfaces for food.
Often does best in a group, which spreads out aggression between individuals.
Can be quarrelsome with its own kind and similar-looking fish.
Keep with robust fish of a similar size. It may nip long fins. It is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Spirulina or algae wafersShould make up much of the diet.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette, cucumber and peas work well. Remove leftovers within a day.
- Small frozen foodsAn occasional addition for protein.
Takes plant matter as well as small foods. Include plenty of vegetable food.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- InfusoriaNeeded for the first days, because most fry are very small.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce as soon as the fry can take it.
An egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults eat eggs and fry, so use a separate tank with fine plants, moss or mesh on the bottom, and remove the adults after spawning. The fry need very small foods at first.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Brazil, South America, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- River
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Synaptolaemus
- Family
- Anostomidae
- Species group
- Fish, Headstanders and Leporinus
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Striped Headstander
Anostomus anostomus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Threespot Headstander
Pseudanos trimaculatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 85 litres
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
Threespot Leporinus
Leporinus friderici
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 40 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1944 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C